Tangled

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

"Guys, this is Arden. Arden, these are the boys. Oh, and, Tatum." Parker said, pointing between the band and his new female acquaintance.

Tatum searched the girl up and down for any indication that she was just like the rest. Parker had an issue with never keeping a steady girlfriend. It would be a blonde haired beauty one day, a black haired mystery girl the next and one time, it was also a woman twice his age. Parker did not have the ability to keep it plain and simple. He has always been on the move, breaking hearts right and left. That was the one thing Tatum hated about him. He was such a sweet and generous lad, but he had his issues in the dating department. However, Arden seemed to stump her. She was not like the rest. She had flaming red hair, piercing green eyes and a stature that was poised and sophisticated. It was unlike anything Tatum had seen on all the other girls.

"Nice to meet you, m'lady," Elliot smiled kindly, taking Arden's hand and kissing it. She chuckled at his boldness while Parker was seething.

"Lay off, man. She's mine."

Elliot let go instantly, afraid to get into Parker's bad book. Anyone that ever made their spot in there was destined to never see the light of day again.

"Hi," Tatum smiled, taking on her turn to shake the girl's hand. Arden grinned and pulled Tatum in for a hug instead to which the strawberry-blonde haired girl was stunned.

When they pulled back, Arden said, "Parker has told me nothing but good things about you four. Especially you, Tatum."

Tatum blushed. "I'm just doing my job."

Denver rung his arm around Tatum's shoulders, pulling her into his side as comfort. She fit perfectly under there, but not in a romantic sense, more of a brotherly way. He cared for her like a brother would, protecting her from all the bad things she failed to see. Like her sister. In Year 10, Denver had a huge crush on Tess; bigger than any he had ever had for a girl. She was his epitome of perfection: gorgeous, smart, hilarious and kind. Then all of that changed one night of the party, one video that struck the hearts of students all over school. His view on Tess changed, but he could not help but still feel something for her, despite everything.

"Well, you're doing your job very well then," Arden grinned while Parker laced his fingers with her. "You guys have a meeting with Jared Cartwright later, right? Parker told me about that."

Tatum nodded, recalling the splendid news Elliot had called her about the day before. One Direction's manager, of all people, wanted to meet with them, Old School Groove. It was way beyond any of their expectations and dreams. They were trying to get their name out there and this may be the perfect chance to do it. Tatum, as well as the rest of the band, knew full and well what this chance meant. It was either going to make them or break them.

It had to go well and meet Jared's standards. It had to.

***

"Come on, boys," a slender man with brown/grey hair invited them in, smiling.

He held the door of the suite open wide, leaving them with enough room to walk inside. The suite was gigantic, bigger than any one of them could have imagined. Although, that is what to expect if one stays at a place as grand as Vantor Hotel. It is ridiculously expensive, but at the same time, worth the money for the stay. Jared led them to a big couch where they all fit in perfectly. Parker still had his phone out as he sent one last text to Arden who was at home and waiting to hear about the outcome. She was just as ecstatic as the rest of them, even though she had only been around for a little while. She cared deeply for Parker. He meant something special to her and she was not going to let him go as easily as she did last time. He had been her first crush, her first boyfriend and things ended badly for them both when they were sixteen. However, now they were much older and more mature, they could handle and take on whatever life threw at them, together.